Abstract

The problem of financial illiteracy, i.e. the individuals' lack of awareness and capability when it comes to financial matters, has been detected worldwide. Its negative consequences on individual and collective well-being have alerted international institutions and national governments, which have spoken one voice backing the need to provide financial education to citizens. Factors like the ageing of the population and the rate of financial innovation require to ensure that households are enduringly made aware of, and responsible for, their financial matters through a specifically-devoted education. The present work takes a snapshot of the point at which a number of states currently stand, highlighting the similarities and the differences. It then focuses on Italy and shows that what lacks is not quality materials for education, but an entity which could manage a national strategy.